Clean Core Thorium Energy (CCTE), a Chicago-based nuclear fuel company, has announced a significant achievement in its ANEEL thorium fuel program, completing high burnup irradiation tests at the Advanced Test Reactor (ATR) located in Idaho National Laboratory (INL). The ANEEL fuel reached a burnup of over 60 GWd/MTU, which is more than eight times the typical discharge burnup of traditional pressurized heavy water reactors (PHWRs) and Canada Deuterium Uranium (CANDU) reactors. This milestone highlights the potential operational benefits of ANEEL fuel, including reduced volumes of nuclear spent fuel, improved reactor economics, enhanced safety performance, and better proliferation resistance. CCTE, founded by Mehul Shah, who has Indian heritage, is the second American company in nearly two decades to obtain a U.S. Department of Energy export license to sell nuclear technology to India. The company is now focusing on a demonstration irradiation in a commercial power reactor to transition ANEEL fuel from a test concept to commercial use. In December 2024, CCTE announced a strategic partnership with state-owned NTPC Ltd to explore the development and deployment of ANEEL fuel in India, which aims to enhance energy security and reduce nuclear waste while utilizing domestically available thorium.